Hello and welcome to Stories of Scotland, a podcast to keep you company on Walks Home in the Dark,

and stop you straying too far from the path. I'm Jenny, your friendly supernatural spirit guiding your way.

And I'm Annie, a much less supernatural archivist. In this season, we've been exploring all things

clans, Crofts and Cayley's, focusing particularly on Highland culture. To achieve us all up

after our emotional exploration of Claude and Battle,

this week we'll be looking at...

Well, actually, Annie, instead of telling folks what this episode is about,

can I do this introduction with a Victorian riddle that I found?

If you absolutely insist, Jenny.

I do.

Okay, let's go.

In the dreary moonless night, when rainy clouds hang low,

I am seen with my glimmering light through the valley creeping slow.

You are a street lamp? Nope, this riddle is set in the rural creeping slow. You are a street lamp?

Nope, this riddle is set in the rural highlands in the 1800s,

so while a valiant first guess, Annie, there are no street lamps here.

I sadden the gloom of night when I burn over the deep quagmire,

when the peasant looks with a fright on my rayless spectral fire.

You are a confident candle with attitude, or maybe a bonfire.

No, no, although I do like the idea of a sassy candle yelling that the wax is about to spill everywhere.

That'll be Gwanaith Partrow's next candle. It'll smell just like a highland bog.

When the drunkard goes astray, I come, but not to save. My task is to guide his way and light him to his grave.

...